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0003160 .F. 316
SCK 3/1168/47 VI
123
SECRET
(7)
INELIGIBLE TRADE UNION OFFICIALS.
On 22nd July 1969, 23 former employees of the Hong Kong Government Waterworks Union were convicted of holding office while ineligible to do so because they were no longer employed by the Waterworks all refused to pay their fines and were sent to prison for periods of from two to three months. The hearing passed quietly but the Communist press attacked the sentences on predictable lines and the release of these men from prison was made the occasion for further press attacks. The union has not replaced these ineligible office bearers on its committee but has undertaken to elect a new committee "in accordance with union rules" at its annual general meeting in December.
2.
The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. Union after receiving a reminder from the R.T.U. that five out of its thirteen member committee were ineligible for office, has forwarded for approval a proposal that its rules be altered to reduce the committee to a strength of seven. This has now been approved. On the assumption that the five ineligibles have been dropped, this union is now probably within the law. This does not mean to say that the influence of the ineligible office bearers is not and will not be felt behind the scenes.
3.
Annex A gives details of communist unions with ineligible officials; evidence is available to support a prosecution in all cases. It will be seen that five unions, from the H.K. Electric Co., the Tramway Co., Taikoo Sugar Rafinery Co., Green Island Cement Co. and the Waterworks, are due to hold their annual general meetings and elect new committees during the next two months. Of these, only the Waterworks and Electric Co. unions have reasonably strong membership.
4.
Unions have noticeably been trying to put their houses in order and obey regulations during the last year. Relations with the Registrar of Trades Unions have improved although they are still far from completely amicable. The example of the Gas Works Union encourages the belief that unions will, where possible, try to elect eligible members to committees but their task is complicated by the intransigence of some members and the reluctance of many of those eligible to volunteer to hold office. All unions are increasing their efforts to recruit new members and to persuade those now inactive to take a full part in union affairs. This campaign has intensified in the last few weeks.
5.
Two further methods of putting pressure on unions are now being examined : firstly, over Mutual aid Sections which certain unions have formed to provide welfare benefits for members and non-members and which are believed to constitute either unregistered unions or illegal societies; secondly, over the resumption of inspections by the R.T.U. of all unions, irrespective of political affiliation, on their premises.
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COLONIAL
SECRETARIA
41
SECRE
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